Setting and locking mechanism fob pbinting devices of postage meters



Aprll 18, 1933. J. w. OGDEN ET AL SETTING AND LOCKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING DEVICES 0F POSTAGE METERS 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Jan. 20

April 18, 1933. J. w. OGDIEN ET AL V SETTING AND LOCKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING DEVICES OF POSTAGE METERS Filed Jan. 20, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 18, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JACOB W. OGDEN, OF SPRINGDALE, AND BERTEOLD KNAUBB, 0! EAST NOB-WALK, 0on- NECTICUT, ASSIGNORB TO PITNEY-BOWES POSTAGE METER 00., O1 STAMFORD, OON- NEGTICUT, A CORPORATION 01' DELAWARE BETTING AND LOCKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING DEVICES OF POSTAGE 11mm This invention is an' improvement in socalled postage meter machines of that class in which the posta e indicia is carried by a machines are commonly used for printing prepaid postage indicia on mail matter or on paper strips to be applied as stamps to mail matter. A machine of this general is shown in companion application filed arch 30, 1931, Serial No. 526,527, but our present invented is not limited to use in connection with this particular machine, and is capable of use in connection with various types of machines whether such have rotary or reciproeating printing means, and in which the postage or value printing indicia is carried by either a rotatable drum or a reciprocating member.

In machines of such class whereby various amounts of value indicia may be printed by varying'or adjusting the printing wheels or dies, it is essential that the registering mechanism be operated in exact accordance with the value of the stamp voucher or ticket printed, and that, the value of each imprint be accurately registered by the registering mechanism. Therefore it is very important to provide means whereby it will be impossible for any one to fraudulently operate the machine so as to obtain an impression of a stamp without having the amount thereof registered, or whereby any one by shifting the value printing devices during the operation thereof could obtain the impression of a stamp of higher denomination and onl' re ister a stamp of lower denomination, an suc machines have generally been provided with some means whereby such fraudulent use of the machine was intended to be revented.

One object of our invention is to provide a novel mechanism whereby the value printing devices mounted in or on a rotatable drum or in a reciprocating support can be positively adjusted by the key controlled setting-up means to print any desired amount (corresponding to the amount represented by the key depressed).

A further object is to provide means whereby any movement of the printing drum or of a reciprocator from its normal rest position. causes instantaneous and automatic locking of the value printing devices in the drum or reciprocator in their pro-adjusted position therein and also prevents operation of the connecting operative mechanisms between the said printing devices and the said setting-up devices, and insures correct registration of such pre-adjusted value amount. In the accompanying drawings we have illustrated one embodiment of bur invention in connection with a postal franking machine of the rotary printingdrum type referred to: showing novel operative means by which the printing devices can be set-up for printing difierent values and such values registered by the meter, and the devices and setting-up means automatically locked against change or fraudulent manipulation until such value has been printed and registered.

We wi l first explain the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings to enable others to understand and use the invention; and thereafter summarize in the claims the essentials of the invention, and the novel fea- Y erial m. 510.026. 12 S 8 U E D Application filed January so, 1981. 8

up devices; the registering devices, and the rotary drum carrying the printing devices.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of Flg. I viewed from the right.

,Fi 3 is a sectional end elevation on lines 3-3 ig. 1 viewed from the right, and showing the relative normal positions of the parts assumed when the machine has completed a series of operations, and the drum is at rest or starting osition.

Fig. 4 1s a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 3 showing the printing drum turned so that the value printing wheels are at printingposition.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are details.

Before describing the invention illustrated it should be noted that in machines arranged for printing indicia of moneta value for any urpose, as for instance posta indicia for fran ing mail, and wherein the value of each may be printed to be attached to bulky parcels' like ordmary postage stamps it is found desirable to employ a rotary printing drum rather than a, reciprocatin member to carry the several printing in lcia (designating station, date, postage value, etc.) The value printing wheels in the drum must of necessity be adjustable in order to enable different amounts or values to be printed; but they may remain set in order to repeat the printing of the same amount for an desired number of successive operations. n our invention we provide novel means to control the adjustment of the printing wheels, etc. in the drum for printing different values, which can be operated by setting-up keys, or levers, such as are ordinarily employed in cash registers; and means whereby as the drum ismoved i from normal duringan operation the value -rinting devices therein will be disengaged m the mechanisms which connect the va ue devices and the setting-up means when the drum is at its normalrest or starting osition 35! and both the setting-up means, an the adjustable printing devices in the rotary drum will be securely locked against any possible alteration of their adjustment whenever the machine is stopped at any other than normal or starting position. In our invention the connecting mechanism can be effectively operated only when the machine is at normal starting position, and is rendered instantaneously meflective when the drum moves out 4.5 of normal starting position. When the connecting operating mechanism is ineffective the setting-up means will be locked against movement and, in their previously adjusted positions, will definitely control the meter W register wheels during the cycle of operations of the drum. v a, The machine shown has a base B upon which is mounted a casing C in which is the main operating shaft 41 of the machine and the setting-up devices which are controllable by depressible keys or levers 1. The particular construction of these setting-up devices is not" an emential feature of the present invention and therefore we have only illuslO trated such parts thereof in the drawings as is necessary to impart a clear understanding of the operation of our present invention.

Mounted'upon the base B adjacent the casing G is a support S upon which is removably 65 mounted a meter M, which may be of the general type shown and described in the aplication of Messrs. Wheeler & Ogden, filed arch 8, 1929, 'Serial No. 345,515, or of other desired construction. This meter ordinarily contains a total register R and a subtracting register R which is 0 rated b .suitable gearing from a main s aft 11 in the meter, which shaft is driven (when the meter is in operative osition in the machine) by a connection wit the main shaft 41 of the machine in the casing.

In the construction indicated in the drawings, see Fig. 3, the numeral wheels of the total register R are driven by a train of gears 16 16a and 166 from a master gear 14. The su tracting register R is also driven by a train of gears 15, 15a, 15b from the gear 14. This gear 14 meshes with a rack bar 21 which is operated as hereinafter described so as to move the gear 14 a number of teeth corresponding to the number of the key depressed as hereinafter explained and for each reciprocator movement of the bar 21. For example t e amount corresponding to the number of the key depressed will be subtracted on register R and added on register R. If the key 5 was depressed for each reciprocatory movement of rack 21 five would be subtracted on register R and five added on register R.

The meter M is made detachable so it can be taken to a postofiice, the amount of prepaid postage purchased can be set up on the re ister R and then the meter sealed by the o cial; when the charged meter is replaced in the machine theilatter can be 0 rated until the amount of postage paid fiir has been exhausted. Then the meter and machine are automatically locked so no further impression can be made until the meter has been reset. Such automatic locking mechanism forms no part of our present invention, therefore only so much of the mechanism of the meter as is necessary to an understanding of our-present invention is illustrated herein.

In the present instance the meter main shaft 11 carries the printing drum 3, which may be of any suitable construction; it carries suitable indicia on its periphery and in' this instance, the drum also carries a value printing die or wheel 8 at its periphery which can be adjusted by novel means, hereinafter explained, to vary the-value numerals presented at the printing point. In addition the drum may also carry devices for printing designs, notations, etc., in addition to the value but such auxiliary printing devices form no part of the present invention and therefore are not illustrated herein.

In the machine to which our invention is shown as applied, the casing G contains a manually or power operated drive shaft 41 which carries one member 40 of a coupling the other member 12 of which is attached to the inner end of the main shaft 11 of the III meter M. In the example shown the meter has a dove-tailed groove in its base enga ing a dove-tailed rib 6a on the su port S. Vhen the meter is slid into operative position the tongue on member 12 engages a groove in the member 40, and then shafts 41 and 11 must and will rotate as one. and when shaft 41 is rotated the drum 3- will be turned.

Within the casing C is a shaft which carries a gear 49 that meshes with a pinion 51 on a shaft 52 which is adapted to be engaged by a sector 52a that is operable a greater or less extent of movement by means controlled by the keys in the related row of keys or levers projecting through the casing C. There are usually nine keys in each row (see Fig. 1) and if key No. 1 in the row. related to sector 52a is depressed (assume that is the row marked a in Fig. 1) it will through the mechanism operate pinion 51 suflicient- 1y to move gear 49 one tooth.' If-the key marked 9 in the row a was depressed the sector 49 would be'moved 9 teeth. In other words the sector is moved one or more teeth in accordance with the number and position of the key depressed. As stated the specific mechanism for operating gear 49 from a key is not claimed herein, and it is unnecessary to further describe the same as various mechanisms of this type are well known.

To :iecilitate an understanding of the construction'and operation of our invention we will describe the. machine as if there was but one row of keys, one gear 49, one printing wheel 8, and only the set of connections shown between said gear 49 and wheel 8. To avoid confusion in the drawings the duplicute sets of devices controlled by the keys in other rows will be omitted.

The gear 49 (see Fig. 3) meshes with a siidable rack bar 42 guided in bearings 46a and 4% below the shaft-41. The bar 42 is toothed on both upper and iower sides and its lower rack meshes with a pinion 48 on shaft 4?. and the lower side of pinion 48 meshes with a slidable rack bar 43 also guided in siots in guides 46a. 46?) {as indicated in Fig. The guides for the rack bars may oi any suitable construction and are only conventionally illustrated. In the normal position of the drum 3 (at the end of one operation and ready for another) the bars 42. 43 are in the positions shown in Fig. 3 with their front ends flush with the outer surface pinion 23 mounted on a shaft 24. said bars being guided in slotsin guides 18 within the meter casing.

\Vhen the meter is in proper position in the machine and the shafts 11 and 41 in airial' alinementand clutched together as in Fig. 3, the rear ends of bars 21 and 22 are flush with the outer face of the rear wall of the meter; and bar 21 is in alinement and contacts with bar 42, and bar 22 is in alinement and cum I tacts with rack 43. Consequently if gear 49 is turned bar 21 will be moved by and with bar 42, and bar 22 will be moved by and with bar 43.

. Bar 21 has a double rack, and the upper rack meshes with gear 14 and with a gear 25 on a shaft 26 in the meter casing. ()n shaft 26 is fixed a disk 29 which has one peripheral tooth 290 which moves within the bend of a.

U-shaped raceway 28, the parallel runs of such raceway extending parallel with the shaft 11 from the bend around disk 29 to the front wall 2a of the meter casing and close to the rear wall of the drum 3.

This raceway maybe formed in any convenient manner; preferably we form it of two similar compleniental members 28 (see Fig. 7) one of said complemental members way toan extent equal to the length of arcuate movement of the tooth. For convenience in construction the complemental members 28 (Figs. 6 and 7) could have their ends inserted iii suitable bores in the lug 39 so that they will be held thereby but the outer ends 1 of the le s of the complemental member ter minate flush with the outside surface of the wall 2a adj 110611}: the housing of the drum Within the drum is a continuation oi the raceway, formed by complemental members 28a the ends of which may be fastened in bores in the inner wall of hub of the drum; and the bend of the members 28a encircle a disk 27 on a shaft 26a, mounted in the drum at right angles to the axis of the drum and within the bend of the members 28a of th eraceway. The disk 27 has a tooth 27a (similar to t into the bend of the raceway within it e drum and occupies the space of one ball, andconse quently whcnthe raceway is ii lledand the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 3, the balls are moved in the raceway by the movement of disk27 and all the balls in the race way would be similariy displaced, and the balls engagin the tooth 27a of disk 27 would cause said disk to rotate exactly the same arcuate extent that disk 29 is rotated. Movement ofthe balls in the raceway however is only possible when the parts are in starting .ie tooth 29a of disk 29) that rejects position (Fig. 3) and the ends of part 280 of the raceway register with the ends of part 28 ofthe raceway. As soon as the drum starts to rotate the ends of portions 28 and 28a of the racewafi will be moved out of alinement, and the ba way become locked therein and cannot esca The halls in the portion 28 will be retamed therein by the outer face of the rear wall of the drum which is closely fitted against the outer face of the outer wall 20 of the meter; and the balls in the part 2a of the racewa will be retained therein by the outer ace of the wall 20 of the meter (see Fig. 4) thus the balls in both sections of the raceway are absolutely locked therein andcannot be moved therein until the drum is a ain stopped at normal starting position aid the legs of the parts 28 and 28a of the racewa are again in exact axial alinement, as in ig. 3.

The drum may be rovided with the usual printing indicia, an as it is to print different values or numbers it is provided with print-in wheels or dies 8 bearing different numera values on the peri hery; and ordinarily a plurality of such w eels are provid ed, mounted on a common axis. These printing wheels 8 are rotatably mounted on a shaft 38 within the drum 3 (see Figs. 3 and 4) the axis of the shaft being perpendicular to the axis of the drum. Each wheel 8 has a pinion 35 meshing with the gear 34 on a shaft 37 in the drum which gear 34 meshes with a pinion 33 on a shaft 36 and the pinion 38 meshes with the pinion 25a on a shaft 260 within the drum; the rotation of said shaft 26 being operatively controlled by the series of balls or movable members .32, which are movable 1n 1. an endless closed circuit only when the drum v explained.

is in the non-printing position as indicated in Fi 3, and when at this ition and at rest t e balls can be operate by the de res-.

sion of the keys 1 and in accordance wit the number of the key depressed as herembefore Operation Assumin that the parts have operated and arrived at t eposition of rest Fig. 3 and it 1s desired to change the printin% wheels 8 to present some other type or gure at the printing point indicated at P Fi 4. At the next operation of the machine if the operator'de ressed the key #5 in row a this key will t rough the proper connections operate gear 51 and cause it to turn gear 49' five teeth and therefore move bar 42 five teeth to the right, and rack 42 through pinion 48 will cause bar 43 to move five teeth to the left. The movement of bar 43 moves rack 22 five teeth to the left and bar 22 through pinion 23 moves bar 21 five teeth to the right, and bar 21 turns both, gear 25 and gear 14 five teeth anti-clockwise, As disk 29 moves s in each part of the race- .the numeral d sk 8 five teeth b with gear 25" its tooth 290 causes the balls 82 to move a distance of live teeth throughout the raceway 28, 28a, and the balls in so doing turn disk 27 the distance of five teeth, similarly rotating gear 250 fast to disk 27. Gear 250 through pmions 83, 34 and 86 turns a s the printing numeral 5 to osition at the periphery of the drum. hen the drum is turned by operating shaft 41 and the instant the drum moves rotatorially from the tion shown in Fig. 3 the portion 280 of fl a e ball raceway moves out of alinement with the ortion 28 and the'balls become looked in th sections of the racewl?" (see' Fig. 4). The balls in the portion 28 o the raceway 'then eflectively lock the bars 21, 22 and through them bars 42 and 48 and gear 49, so that they cannot be again moved until the drum has made a complete revolution and the rtions of the raceway are restored to the sitions shown in Fig. 3. The halls in the part 28a of the raceway also look disk 2! and gear 29 (see Fig. 4) and the numeral whee 8 cannot rotate or shift its position in the drum until the parts are restored to the normal or rest position (indicated in 8).

When the drum has made a one-half revolution the numeral 5 on the disk 8 is brolight to printing position, as indicated at P in 4, and can cooperate with the imprenion.

roll 4, or other impression means, to take an impression from the numeral wheel.

From the foregoing it will beseen that the 49, etc., are locked so that-they cannot be again adjusted until the drum has again returned to normal rest position, Fi .8. Thus the balls in the racewa not 0 y serve to transmit motion from the. key to the printing wheel in the drum, when the drum is at rest position; but also serve as a means for locking the numeral wheel in the drum, the registers in the meter, and the key setting-up devices in the casing, when the drum is out of normal rest position.

As above stated in the complete machine a plurality of printing wheels will ordinarily be pro vided in the-drum and a corresponding plurality of setting up and adjustin devices rovided for such wheels as above escribed. ese would be duplicates and therefore need not be described. In the machine indicated there are six rows of numeral wheels consequently there would be six rows of setting keys in the casing; six numeral wheels,

like 8, in the drum,' and'there will be controlmoral wheel whereby such wheel may be adjusted according to the key depressed when the parts are in normal rest position, and the parts locked as described w en the drum is moved out of normal position.

The invention however is not limited to the use of a raceway of the particular form set forth in the foregoing description.

A plurality of setting devices are indlcated by means of-dotted lines in Fig. 3 but only one set is shown in full lines to avoid confusion and obscuration of the drawings.

While we have shownand preferably employ balls as the movable objects in the raceway; obviously other objects capable of opthe drum for shifting the value printing.

means; a rotatable member exterior'to the 1 drain; key controlled means for variably shifting the latter member; a raceway including both said rotary members; and means in the raceway whereby movement or" one rotary may be transmitted to the other when the drum is in normal rest position; the continuity of the raceway being broken when the drum moves out of normal ppsition, thereby inching both the said mem ers, and such continuity being automatically restored when,

the drum is returned to normal position thereby unlockin said members.

Q, In combination with mechanism as set forth in claim 1; key controlled setting-up devices and means controlled by said setting-up de ces whereby when the drum is in normal as 0 position the said rotary member exterior to the may be shifted in accordance w 1 the value of the key depressed and the alue printing devices in t ev drum corres ondingly shifted.

8, In a machine of the character specified g a meter; a'rctary drum; value printeans therein a rotatable member in the clam ccnnected witli said value printing means, a rotatable member exterior to the drum, a raceway comprising a section in the drum and a section in the meter; said sections respectively including one of the said rotary members; and means in the raceway whereby movement of the rotary member in the meter is transmitted to the member in the drum; the section of the raceway being disconnected by movement of the drum out of normal rest position and preventing shifting of said members until the drum is returned to rest position.

In combination with mechanism as set ilorth in claim '3; key controlled setting-up devices exterior to the meter and means controlled by said setting-up devices whereby when the drum is in normal rest position the said rotary member in the meter may be shifted in accordance with the value of the key depressed and the value printin devices in the drum correspondingly shifte 5. In a machine of the character specified, a meter casing, a rotary printing drum exterior to the meter casing; variable value printing devices in the drum, means in the drum for adjusting said devices; key controlled setting-up devices, adjustable means in the meter operable by said setting-up devices; an endless raceway having a section in the drum and a section in the meter casing and means in said. raceway whereby the said means in the drum may be operated by the adjustable means in the meter when the drum is in normal rest position; and whereby both said adjusting means will be locked when the sections of the raceway are relatively displaced by movement of the drum from normal position.

6. In a machine of the character'specified having a meter; a rotary rinting drum exterior to the meter; varia le value printing devices in the drum; a rotary member and gearing in the drum for shifting the valueprinting devices; a similar rotary member in the meter; an endless raceway having a sec- A tion in the drum connecting with the rotary member in the drum; and a section in the meter connecting with the rotary member in the meter; and means in said raceway whereby the member in the drum may be shifted by and in accordance with the movement of the rotary memberdn the meter only when the drum is at normal rest position; and

whereby both members will be locked when the sections of the raceway are relatively displaced by movement of the drum from normal position.

7. in combination with mechanism as set forth in claim 6, key controlled setting-up devices exterior to the meter, and means in the meter controlled by said setting-up devices whereby when the drum is in normal rest position the said rotary member in the drum may be shifted in accordance with the value of the key depressed; and the value printing devices in the drum correspondingly shifted.

8. In a machine of the character specified; a rotary printing drum, said drum containing variable value printing devices; a toothed ror tary diskand gearing operated by said disk for sh1ft1ng sald value printing devices; a similar rotar toothed disk exterior to the drum; an en ess raceway comprising a scction in the drum enclosing the rotary disk in the drum, a series of movable objcctsvin said raceway whereby the disk in the drum can be shifted by the exterior disk said disks being shiftable onl when the drum is at normal rest position, an both disks being locked when the sections of the raceway are relatively displaced by movement of the drum from normal position.

9. In combination with mechanism as set forth in claim 8, key controlled setting-up devices exterior to the drum and racks and gearing controlled by said setting-up devices whereby the said exterior rotary disk may be shifted in accordance with the value of the key depressed when the drum is in normal rest position and the value printin devices in the drum correspondingly shifted.

10. In a machine of the character specified, a rotary support carrying value printing means and a rotatable member for shifting said means; a similar rotatable member exterior to the drum; a raceway having a section in the drum and a section exterior thereto, said sections respectively including one of ment of the said adjustable member; and devices whereby the means in said raceway can be shifted only when the drum is at normal rest position.

12. In a machine of the character specified;

' a rotary drum carrying variable value printing devices; key controlled settin -up devices; adjustable means exterior to t e drum and operable by said setting-up devices; a raceway having a section in the drum and a section exterior thereto; and movable means in said raceway whereby when the drum is in normal restposition the value printing devices in the drum may be operated by the said adjustable means.

13. In a machine of the character specified; a rotary support carrying value printin means and a rotary member for shifting sai means; a similar rotary member adjacent the support, and araceway including both of the said rotary members; means for shifting the rotary member adjacent the support, means in the racewa whereby movement of the rotary member 1s transmitted to the member in the drum; and means whereby the printin means is shifted by and in accordance wit the shifting-of the members in the raceway.

14. In a machine of the character specified a drum carrying variable value printin devices, a raceway having a section in the rum and a section exterior thereto, an adjustable member in the exterior section of the racewa means in said raceway whereby the variab e devices in the drum may be value rintin shifted by an in accordance with the movement of the said adjustable member and devices whereby the means in said raceway can be shifted only when the drum is at normal rest position.

16. In a machine of the character specified; a rotary drum carryinfivariable value printin devices; key contro edsettin -up devices, a ustable means exterior to the rum operable by said setting-up devices; a raceway havin a section in the drum and a section exterror thereto enclosing said adjustable means, and movable means in saidraceway whereby when the drum is in normal rest position the said value rinting devices in the drum may be operated by the said adjustable means.

16. In a machine of the character specified, a rotary drum, rinting means in said drum and means for s ifting said printing means: devices for setting said shiftin means, and a connection between said devices and said shifting means including a channel havin sections aligned when the drum is in norma rest position, and disconnected when the drum is out of such position, and means in the channel for transmitting movement of said devices to said printing means.

17. In a machine of the character a ified having a rotary printing drum an variable printing means in said drum, a controlling device for setting said variable printing means, and a connection between said controllin device and said variable printing means inc uding a channel or channels having sections aligned when the drum is in normal rest position and disconnected when the drum is out of said position, and means in the channel or channels for transmitting the movement of said controlling device to said variable printing means.

18. In a machine of the character specified, a rotary su port carrying printin means and means or variabl shifting sai printing means; controlling evices for setting said means, and a connection between said devices and said means including a channel having a section in the drum and a section exterior thereto, and means in the channel whereby movement of the devices is transmittedto the said means.

19.'In a machine of the character specified having a movable printingmember carrying variable printing means, a controlling device for setting said variable printing means, and a connection between said controlling device and said variable printing means including a channel havin a section in a movable printing member an a section exterior thereto, said sections aligning when the printing member is in one position, and means in the channel'whereby movement of the controlling device is transmitted to the variable printin means.

20. In a mac 'ne of the character specified, a rotary drum, value rinting means, and means for shiftin said value rinting means in said drum; ey controll devices for setting said shifting means, and'a connection between said devices and said means including a channel having sections aligned when the drum is in normal rest position and disconnected when the drum is out of such position, and movable objects in the channel whereby movement of the devices can be transmitted to the said value shifting means, said transmission of movement being possible only when the drum is in normal rest position, and said objects locking the value printing means in adjusted position when the drum is out of normal position.

21. In a machine of the character specified having a movable printing member carrying variable printing means; a controlling device for setting said variable printing means, and a connection between said controlling device and said variable printing means including a channel having asection in a movable printing member and a section exterior thereto, said sections aligningwhen the printing member is in one position, and means in the channel whereby movement 0 the controlling device is transmitted t6 the variable printing means, said means in the channel consisting of objects movable when the printing member is in one position and locking the variable printing means when the printing member. is in other positions.

22. In a printing mechanism embodying a stationary member supporting a rotatable printing drum carrying variable printing devices; and a controlling connection between said printing devices and the stationary member of the mechanism, including a channel in said drum aligning with a channel in the stationary member in one position in the orbit of the printing drum and a series of movable objects in said channel.

23. In a printing mechanism embodyin a stationary member supporting a movable printing member carrying variable printing devices; a controlling connection between said printing member and the stationary member of the mechanism, including a channel in said printin'g member aligning with channel in said stationary member in one position of the movement of the printing member, and a series of movable objects in said channel.

24.111 a machine of the character specitied; a rotary drum containing value printing means; connections in the drum for shifting the value printing means; a fixed support for said drum; key-controlled nieans mounted in said support; a raceway between said key-controlled means and said connections; and means in the raceway whereby movement may be transmittedto said connectiofls when the drum is in normal rest position; the continuity of the raceway being broken when the drum moves out of normal position, thereby locking said connections and said key-controlled means, and such continuity being automatically restoredlwhen the drum is returned to normal position thereby unlocking said connections and said movement may be transmitted to said connections when said impression member and said support are both normally at rest position, the continuity of the raceway'being broken when either the said impression member or the said support are individually moved from the normal rest position thereby locking both the said key-controlled setting. up devices and said connections, and such continuity being automatically restored when f boththe said impression member and said support are at normal rest position.

26. In a machine of the character specified, a movable member: carryin variable printing means, means, for shi ing said printing means; devices for setting said shifting means, and a connection between said devices and said shifting means including a channel having sections aligned when the member is in normal rest position but disconnected when the member is out of such position and means in the channel for'transmitting movement bf said devices to said printing means. 1

27. In a machine of the character specified, a movable member carrying variable printing means and means for shifting said printing means; devices exterior to said member for setting said shifting means and a connection between said devices and saidshifting means including a channel having sections aligned when the member is in normal rest position but disconnected when the member is out of such position, and means inthe channel for transmitting movement of said devices to said printing means.

28. In a machine of the character spe fied, a movable member carryin variable printing means and means for shifting said printing means; members for setting said shifting means,

shifting means including a channel having sections aligned when the drum is in normal rest position, but disconnected when the drum is out of such position, and a series of movable objects in the channel for transmitting movement of said devices to said printing means. JACOB W. OGDEN.

BERTHOLD KNAUER.

devices exterior to said and connection between said devices. and said 

